Motor-vehicle for soft ground



'1. E OLLIVIEH. MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND APPLICATION FILED MAY 7,1918. I

\ I Patented May 1&1920.

. H SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I 1 I I I I I I I I MENTO I a m/ 5 Q Zz'vzer ATTORNEY J. E. OLLIVIER.MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SOFTGROUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY? 1918.

ll SHEETS SHEET 2.

I I SHEETSSHET 3- 1 r A V H m m m m w RM uLHLm n m n W n u r i- 1 W W mm m A \l v r T p H H R W m A m B 4 C z J; E, OLLIVIER. MOTOR VEHICLE FORSOFT'GROUND. APPLICATI-ON FILED MAY7.1918.

Patnted May 18,1920.

1. E. QLUVIER. MOTOR VEHICLE FOR'S OFT GROUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY], 1918. I v v Patented May 18, 1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET 4- l y l b e I an I I a AUI] FIN ET J. E. OLLIVIER;

MOTOB VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

APPLICATION FlllED MAY 7, 191B. 4

" Patented May 18, 1920.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

:INVENTUH .75 6??? a? 01/1 a/zer' ATTUFHNEY- J. E. OLLIVIER- MOTORVEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

O APPLICATION FILED MAY 1918.

H SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTUP; Q56 f. 0/1; vie-r AUUHNEY Patented May 18,1920.

' J. E. OLLIVIER. MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 7 1918.

Patented May 18, 1920.

H SHEETS-SHEET 7- ATTORNEY 1. E. oLuviEr.

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, mar

1,340,789, Patented May 18, 1920. I

I I SHEETS-SHEET 8 jNvENmH z 1 E filial 1e? Amman J. E. OLLIVIER; MOTORVEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

' APPLICATION Fl-LED MAY 7; 1918. 1,340,789 Patented May 18, 1920-.

H SHEETS- SHEET 9.

* umkawa/ ATTORNEY J E. OL'LIVIEB. MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 71 1918.

1,340,789. Patented May 18,1920.

ATTUF;NEY

J. E. OLLIVIER.

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR son GROUND. APPLICATION FILED MAY7. I918.

1,340,789., Patented May 18, 1920.

n SHEETS-SHEET 11.

nisirnn s carton.

JOCELYN EMILE om rvma, or PARIS, FRANCE,

IVIO'IOR VEHICLE FOR SOFT GROUND.

intense.

Specification o'f Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920 Application filed May 7, 1918. Serial No. 233,137.

17 Rue Desbordes-Valmora) have invented a 'new and useful Motor-Vehiclefor Soft 'Ground, which improvements are fully set forth in thefollowing specification.

The invention-relates to a motor vehicle which can be used equally wellon soft ground, on snow and sand, as well asron ordinary roads.

This vehicle, in addition tothe two 0rd1- nary driving wheels, comprisestwo endless track propellers arranged in front of the driving wheels andpreferably drivenby means of chains by' pinions mounted on a spindlenormal'to the main driving shaft and driven by the same.

Th'daccompanylng drawings show by way of example a few constructionsaccording to the invention.

l igure 1 is a plan view of the improved motorgcar.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement for controlling the clutches of the tractorchains.

.Fig. 8 shows a modified form of clutch which may be used.

Figs. 4 and 5 show devices for braking the tractor chains.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail v1ews ofthe ratchet gears of the pinions of thetractor chains.

Fig. 8 is a plan'view of a modified con.- struction of the motor car.

Fig. 9 is a modified construction showing a bevel pinion driving gearapplicable" in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

F ig. 10 is a fragmental detail sectional view showing one of the chainopenings provided in the central gear case or bridge.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken through said gear case on line YY,Fig. 8.-

Fig. 1.2 is a detail view showing the ad justable connection of the stayplate's tothe rear axle.

Fig. 13 is a transverse section through one of thestay plates and itsattached guard or cover plate.

Fig. 14 is a partial plan showing a modification of the constructionshown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view showing the mounting of theoutside pinions.

Fig. 16 is aside elevation of one ofthei tractors.

'fication of the drivinggearing represented in Fig. 14.

Figs. 21, 22 and 23 arev diagrammatic views illustrating various othermodifications of the tractor mounting.

Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically still another modified form ofmounting.

Fig. 23 shows a modified form'of revers- I ing gearing. v

Figs. 24tand 20 are, respectively, a transverse section and a detailplan view of a double-chain tractor.

Fig. 26 is a detail of a developmentof the construction shown in Figs.24 and 25.

Figs. 27 and 28 show, in side elevation and plan respectively, a form oftractor which is a modification of that illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged detail of a'modified form of mounting for thestretching roller.

Figs. '30 and 31 represent modifications of the tractor drive.

Figs. 32, 33 and 34. are diagrammatic views representing modificationsof the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 35 is an enlarged transverse section through the clutch mechanismof Fig. 36, which represents a further modified driving system.

Fig. 37 shows the invention applied to a vehicle designed to travel oversnow, and Figs. 38 and 39 represent details relating to the mounting ofthe runners of such vehicle.

As will be seen in Fig. 1. the car is provided with an engine M,and'with a change speed gear V having aclutch of any desired type, inthe same way as the ordinary car. The driving shaft A is connected bymeans of a Cardan joint C to the transinission shaft D which drives thewheel shaft or rear axle.

2, 2. The pinion 1 could be either mounted direct on the shaft 2, 21which would then be of one-piece construction, or'the two members orsections of the shaft may be separate from each other and connected bythe differential 3, in which instance the pinion 1 would be, mounted onthe differential.

The shaft sections .2 and 2 are hollow, and

the two spindles 4, 1 arranged in line with them, rotate inside them.The spindles .4 and 4 carry pinions 5 and 5 which preferably by means ofchains 7'and 7 drive -the pinions 6 and 6 mounted on the spindles of thepinions whichguide the endless tractor chains. In order to simplify thedrawing, .and as several methods of fitting endless track propellerswill be hereinafter described in detail, Fig. 1, as well as Figs. 8 and14, show the said tractors merely in a diagrammatic manner. The spindles1 and 4 are loose relatively to the shaft sections or shafts 2 and 2,but they can be caused .to take part in the rotation of the latter bymeans of clutches E and E of any desired type. Fig. 1 shows, by wayofexample,

- claw clutches. The tubular shafts 2 and 2" terminate in claws 9 and 9and the shafts 4 and 4 carry two claws Sand 8 which .oan slide on theshafts and rotate with them and which can engage with the claws 9 and9.. The movement of the claws 8 and 8 is obtained by any desired means,for instance by means of a lever L (Fig. 2) pivoted at P andtransmitting its movement to levers 10 and 10' pivoted to it and toforks 11 and 11 which move the claws 8 and 8. The two forks could alsobe controlled by means of cables 12 and 12 passing over pulleys.

p and p and afterward joined together so that they can be pulled bymeans of a single.

cable .H, return springs R and R having end, it may be preferable,.onaccount of its length, to cut it in half and to connect the two halvesby a Cardan joint 13 (Fig. 1).

' which is secured to'the chassis.

Although this is less advisable, it is possible to do the' same asregards the shafts 4 and 4.

The transverse or cross-shaft could be su'pported by the chassis invarious ways, the best of which is to inclose it in a gear case 14 shownin dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 8 The shaft is supported in the said.gear case which forms a bridge, by ball bearings 15, 16, 15', 16. Thisgear case will also be used for supporting the shaft A. To facilitatethe turning, only one of the tractor chains may be thrown into gear whenthe clutches are mounted on the transverse or cross-shaft; at the sametime a braking action may be exercised on the other chain.- A singlecontrol could. be designed for-these two operations. Ifthe shaft 2,2carries a differential, it is sufficient tov brake one of the tractors.To be able to do so, the shaft 2 (or the shaft 4:) and the shaft 2'shaft 4:) are each provided .with a brake of any desired kind. By way ofexample, Figs. 4 and 5 show a method of construction of this system:Fig. 1 shows the shaft and the gear case in section onflineX X ofFig. 1. The segments and e are mounted in the interior of the gearcaseby means of pivot pins 17 and 17 (Fig. 4). The end portion ofthe-segment .2" slidably engages with the end portion-of thesegmentwhich is provided for the purpose with a recessed part, and between theterminals'j and j of said (or the.

portions there is arranged a cam 18 which,

on being rotated by pressing on'a pedal 19, will tendto move the saidterminals 7' and j away from each other, that is to say to press thesegments sands against the rim of the disk 20 secured to thedifferential casing, or to the shaft. if there be no differential. Itgoesavithout saying that in the contrary case there will be two of thesebrakes arranged symmetrically. lV hen the endless tractors are verylong, it may be preferable, for reversing, to ar range the engine todrive the front pinion of said chain, instead of the rear pinion. Tothat end, each of the shafts 4 and 4: instead of having only a singlepinion, will have two pinions 5 and 21, 5 and 21, one driving the rearpinion of the chain, theother the front pinion (Figrl). These pinionsare provided with .ratchet gears like the free .wheel pinions ofbicycles, but'the ratchet teeth of the pinions 5 and 21 extend in op--posite directions (Figs 6 and 7), so that during the driving forward,the pinions 5 and 5 only are driven, while the pinions 21 and 21aloneare driven during revers ing. The pinions 21 and 21 drive pinions22 and 22 which are mounted on the spindles of the front pinions of theendless tractors by means of driving chains 23 and 23. a

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the driving shaft A asbeforetransmits'its motion to the cross-shaft 2, 2 which carries the twopinions 5 and 5 which, by means of the chains 7 and 7, transmit themotion to the endless tractor chains; but the driving movement, insteadof being transmitted to the rear wheels'by means of aCardan shaft, istransmitted by means of chains 24;

and 24" which pass, on the one hand, over I the pinions 25 and 25secured respectively to the shafts 2 and 2, and on theother hand, overthe pinions 26 and 26 which are mounted on the two shafts or shaftsections 27 and 27. which drive the rear wheels. The

shafts 2 and 2 engage with the differential q 130 3 which is thenessential and which carries secured to the stay plate 32 or. 32 (Fig.13)

the pinion 1 engaging with the worm on the engine or driving shaft. litmust be pointed out that itwould also be possible to utilize a bevelpinion The shafts 2 and 2 carry brakes 28 and 28 of any desiredconstruction, shown diagrammatically in Fig: 8, and the rotary movementof said shafts is transmitted to the shafts 4 and 4 as before by meansof clutches E and E, preferably disk clutches.

As in the preceding case, it. is preferable to use a gear case 14forming a bridge which supports the shafts 2, 2 and 4, 4-as well astheshaft A and is supported on the chassis; only in the said gear caseit is necessary to provide small orifices for the passage of the chains24 and 24 (see Fig. 10).

The two shafts 27 and 27 which drive the rear wheels (Fig. 8) aresupported by a gear case 29 forming a bridge or rear axle which alsosupportsthe rear springs of the car. The shafts 27 and 27 will rotate inthe said gear case, being supported by ball bearings 30, 31, 30, 3i;orifices are also provided in this gear case for the passage of thechains.

The two metal. plates 32 and 32' (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8) willplay the part f'stays, and they arepivotally mounted at one end on thegear case14 (or on parts secured to the said gear case) about which theycan oscillate (see Fig. 11), and are secured at the other end to therear axle, preferably in an adjustable manner, in order to enable themto be used as chain stretchers. For instance, to each plate 32 aresecured screw-threaded rods 33' (Fig. 12) which are fastened to lugs 34secured to the rear axle. by means of nuts e; it will be seen that, byscrewing the said nuts to a greater or less extent, it is possible tomove the rear axle forward or back relatively to the plates 32. It ispreferable, in order to protect the chains 24 and 24 from'dust, to

inclose each of them in a gear case. Each gear case could be constitutedby a troughshaped sheet metal guard or cover plate 35 The arrangementmust be made so that the said sheet should fit well the gear case 14. Asthere is a space between the stay plate 32 or 32 and the rear axle 29(Fig. 12), the guard plate 35 must terminate coinci dently with thecorresponding stay plate, and these two partsthe plate 32 and the plate35are connected to the rear axle 29 by sheets or strips of leather or ofany other flexible material, the object ofwhich is to prevent dust fromgetting in.

Fig. 14 shows a similar construction, but the driving motion istransmitted from the shaft 2, 2 to the rear wheels not by chainsarranged in the interior of the chassis as in the preceding case,-but byexteriorly arranged chains 36 and 36' and pinions 3'? drive (Fig. 9).

jerably mounted as shown in Fig. 15. The

pinion 37 issecured to the shaft 2, while I the pinion 5 is mounted onthe tubular shaft .4 which is loose on the shaft 2. The part 39 canslide on the part 40 which forms a bearing for the shaft 2,. and'saidpart 39 is provided with claws 41 which can engage with orificesprovidedin the pinions'5 and 37-, their optional connection thus being insured.The pinions 5 and 37 are mounted in the same manner.

Figs. 16-l8 show one method of mounting the endless tractors on thechassis, these tractors being preferably constituted by endless chains.The pinions 42 and 43 over which passes the endless tractor chain 44,are secured with their shafts 45 and 4G to rods47, 47, 48 and 48 whichare pivoted to two bars 50 and 50 by means of pivot pins orbolts 52, 53,54 and Two bars 56 and 56 are mounted at the ends of the shafts 45 and46 and carry rollers 6 which press on the lower section ofthe chain.

The two bars 50 and 50 are in their turn pivoted to the chassis ofthe-car in the following manner:

A metal plate 58 is secured transversely to the chassis C in any desiredmanner. this plate having two projections 59 and 60 to which the bars 50and 50 are pivoted by means of pins or bolts 53 and 54; the same 59 and60 of the part 58 and form pivot pins; (1) for the bars 50 and 50 (seeFigs. 18 and 19) (2) for the rods 48 and 48. The pivot pins are held bynutsL. The pivot pin 54 (see Fig. 19-) is hollow in order to affordpassage to the shaft 4 which carries the pinion 5'(see also Figs. '1 and8). It is preferable that the above mentioned gear case 14 should fitagainst the projection 60;

the ball bearing 16 shown in Figsl and 2 i I can then be replaced withadvantage by a ball bearing 61 (Fig. 19). Another solution (OIlSlStS inadding another ball bearing 62 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19) and informing the shaft 4 in two parts which are,

connected by means of a Cardan joint 63 (Fig. 18). The pinion 5transmits the driving movement preferably by means of a driving chain TVto the pinion 6 (Figs. 1G18) which is keyed to the shaft 46.

The rods 47 and 47' and 48 and 48' being pivoted about the pins 52 and53,54 and the angle which they make relatively to the ba1's50 and 50,can be adjusted at will in any desired manner, for instance by means ofthe following device; the two rods 47 and 47' are stayed by a bar 64(Figs. 18 and 16).

(Fig. 16) 'held'locked in a cage 68 secured to a bar 69 which in itsturn is secured to the two bars 50 and 50'. The nut 67 carr1es-a pinion70 (Figs. 16 and 17) which, by

' means of adriving chain 71, is connected to a pinion 72, the spindleof which is secured to the plate 58. This pinion can be operated by thedriver in any desired manner; for instance it. could be provided on itsspindle with another pinion 73 with which engages a driving chain. j

When the pinion 72 is rotated, thispro duces a rotation of the nut 67,which results in raising or lowering the. rods47 and 4 7, as well as therods 48 and 48, as they are connected together by means of the bars 56and 56. he whole forms therefore a parallel motion device which can beadjusted --hy the means described; this mechanism has for its object toenable the endless tractor chain to be raisedor lowered relatively tothe chassis. I

It must be pointed out that these movements .will not affect the tensionof the chain, as the distance between the pins 46 and does not vary.

As will be seen, the double quadrilateral which forms the support forthe tractor, is

pivoted about the pins 53 and 54 (Figs. 17-

and 18) as .the bars and 50 can freely oscillate about the said pins,thus enabling the tractor to be given the desired inclination accordingto the-surface of the ground.

Any desired system could be provided for stretching the chain W passingover the pin ions 5 and 6 (Figs. 1618). either the length of the rods 48and 48' (Figs. 16-18) could be varied by providing them with anadjustment device similar to the chain-stretching devices described inthe foregoing, or the spindle 46 could be mounted in two eccentrics, ofwhich it will form the center; these eccentrics supporting respectively,one the bars 48 and 56, and the other the bars 48 and 56. Fig. 18 showsthe method of mounting one of these eccentrics: the. eccentric h ismounted in a seat in the bar 48which is split at-its ends, and issecurely fixed in its seat by means of a tightening bolt is. The spindle46 rotates loosely in the said bar 56. In order to ad-.

in theeccentric; asregards'the bar 56, it is mounted on the eccentricwhich can rotate just the length of thechain, it will be sufiicienttounscrew the nut and to turn the eccentric.

To prevent the chains from getting dirty, they could each be inclosed ina gear case.

Fig. 21 shows a modification of the method of mounting shown in Fig.16,six pivoted supporting rods being employed instead of the chain.

Fig. 23 shows a method of mounting the To that end,-

four. The two added rods, one of which is indicated at49 in this figure,are disposed between the rods 47, 47 and 48, 48 a-nd are pivoted to thebars 50 and 50, 56 and.56(,

the working of the device remaining the same.

' In Fig. 22, the rods 47 'and 47' are no pin- mounting) one 0r.morepinions similar to the pinion 9' shown in Fig; 22, the object of whichis to stretch the upper section of tractor, in which the pivot joint ofthe latter about the pins '53 and 54 (see Figs.

17 and 18) is done away'with. The bars 47,47. and 50, 50 are thenpivoted by means of. a pin 0' to a cross-bar 74secured vto the chassis,Fig. 23; the bars 50 no .The pinion 21 transmits its movement by meansof a chain to the pinion p placed at the upper front corner of theparallelogram, and the pinion p transmits its movement by means ofanother pinion mounted on its own spindle, and of-a chain, to apinion-72- mounted on the spindle of the pinion 42. 4

. This method of driving could be moreover used also for drivingforward, in the event of the tractor being of great'length; in such acase, the pinion 5 need not be at the upper front corner of thequadrilateral, but may be located intermediate it was shown in Fig. 1that in the ends of the upper member thereof (-Fig.

36), in which case it transmits its movement by means of a chain to apinion 5 placed at the upper rear corner of the quadrilateral, whichpinion 5' in its turn transmits. the movement to the pinion 6 by meansof a pinion mounted on the same spindle with it,'and of a chain.

.(Fig. 36) ;the result will be the same. When using the driving gearshown in F ig. 14, it is preferable to arrange the pinion 5 outside thebars 50 and 50 (Fig. 20),

side by side with the pinion 37 (Fig. 14).

The construction of the endless tractor shown in Figs. 27 and 28, is amodification of the method of mounting shown in Figs. 16 and 17. and isat present preferred to that mounting; the bars 56v supporting theintermediate rollers, are done away with, and each roller is .mounted ontwo'rods .pivoted to the frame. Thus each roller 42 is supported bytwo'rods S2 and 82 which are pivoted to the bars 50 and 50 which formthe frame. Moreover, each of these rods is provided with an extension 83(83), each of the said extensionsbeing connected by a spring R (of anydesired kind) to arms 2? and if provided on a bar A -which can slideinbearings Q? and S secured to the frame. A roller 84 intended to keeptaut the upper section of the end less tractor, is mounted in the sameway. Owing to this method of mounting, each roller has a resiliency ofits own, and the endless tractor, can better adapt itself to the ground.The tension of the springs can be adjusted by moving the bar A to theright or to the left. This movement is obtained for instance. byrotating axnut E mounted on the screwthreaded end of the bar and held ina cage secured to the frame. This nut can be provided outside with teeth(for instance-0f helical shape), and is rotated by a pinion W?controlled from the drivers seat. When the bar A is moved to asufficient extent to the left, the arms in Fig. 29 and held by springs tand. t h will come into contact with the: rods 83 and 83 and push themback, ow-

ing to which the endless tractor will be raised above the ground. Inorder to increase the flexibility" of the stretching roller 84;, itscarrier rods 85c0uld be provided with additional springs: these rods 85may be made rection, while allowing it to'oscillate freely about pins Nand N, it could be guided by means of a guide bracket 86 secured to theframe and sliding on the rod 87 se-v cured to the chassis of thevehicle. YVhen the tractor is raised above the ground, the guide bracketcould be locked on the rod,

- for instance by the rotation of an eccentric I (Fig. 27), the spindleof which is secured to the chassis of the vehicle and which, ac-

cording to its "position, can either press.

against the guide bracket 86 (when in the position shown in Fig. 27) orleave it free.

It must be pointed out that this guide bracket device could also. beapplied to the mounting of the tractor shown in Fig. 16.

It will be seen that it is not necessary that the pinion 43 (Fig. 27-)which receives the driving movement, should besituatd at the rear endofthe tractor; one or more .out that the cross-bars could be secured atgreatwidth, it is preferable to use double additional pinions could bearranged behind it.

lncertain cases it will be possible to do away with the pivoting'of theframe about the pins N and N, in which instance the frame willbe securedto the chassis of the vehicle by means of two cross-bars T and T (Fig.32)'-a method of mounting similar to that of Fig. 23; but it mustbe'pointed any desired points of the frame.

Figs. 30 and 31 show modified forms of drive between-the pinions 5 ofthe crossshaft (see also Figs. 27 and 28) and the pinions driving theendless tractor chain. In the case of Fig. 27, each tractor is drivenbymeans of the two pinions 5 and 6 and of a driving chain. In Fig.30,the'driving is effected by means of bevelpinions p and p and of aspindle a, in Fig. 81,v by means of helical=pinions 'Z) and'o and of.aspindle a.

In certain cases it is preferable to use for the tractors ofvehicles-intended for soft ground, endless belts in place of endlesschains.

It is also possible to use elastic chain or belt tractors, and it isthen advisable to secure the tractors to the chassis of the vehicle bycross-bars. T (Fig 33) by a method of mounting similar to that shown inFig. 32, the cross-bars being secured, on the one hand, to thechassis ofthe vehicle, and on the other hand, to the frames of the two tractors.For the sake of simplicity, the drawing shows merely diagrammaticallythe frame of an elastic tractor,.as"well as the lower rollers which, inFig. 33, are pivoted; the driving is preferably effected by means of thepinions 5 and and of the driving chain 0 hen (still referring to' thecase of an elastic tractor) the rollers are mounted in a sliding manner(Fig. 341) it is preferable to drive by means of a spindle and bevelpinions and p 3) and 0*, the pinion p being mounted on the crossshaft ofthe vehicle.

Any other desired type of endless trackf chains or belts etc. may alsobe used. When it is desiredto utilize tractors of a very chain .of thefollowing construction 2 1 26) the links 75 and 76 of each chain have arectangular lzl-sertion, the opposite links of the two chains beingconnected by rods 77 secured to the links; to the links are also'securedplates 78 which will bear on the ground and which can have a certainelasticity.

Itgoes without saying that the rollers 6 will be double, as well as thep inions 42 and 43 (Fig. 16), which does not change anything in themethod of. mounting above described.

On certain kinds of ground, it is preferable to secure plates formingblades or application,

wings, to theplates 78 (see Fig. 26), and

it is also possible to use blades or wings 80 secured toa flexible metalrod 81 which is calculated so that the endless tractor chainsand thewheels will have approximately the same speed relatively to the ground.In the event of the vehicle beingutilized to travel over snow, it isadvisable to replace its front wheels by runners and to provide its rearwheels with an antiskidding device, for instance that described in myprior Patent No. 1,225,999 granted May 15, 1917.

Another combination would beto replacenot only the front wheels byrunners, but. also to replace the rear wheelsby runners as shown inFig/3 7. For this purpose there would be adopted oneofthe known systemsenabling a wheel to be'replaced by a runner, or a runnerizo, be placedunder a wheel. For the front wheels it is preferable to adopt thearrangement disclosed in my co-pending Serial No 189,767, filedSeptember5,191

This system could also be applied to the be as follows: I, 5

Each rear wheel will be replaced (Figs 38 and 39) by a rod T carrying atits; base arunner pivotedto it; a fork F 3 secured to the rear axle Eprevents the rod T 3 from turning about the hub M (this fork F canstraddle either the upper or the lower portion of-rod T Figs. 38 and39).

It is essential to bear in mind thatgallthe devices described can bevaried 111*2t00n sideiabler manner without departing from,

the spirit of the invention.

,Claims: v

1. In a motor vehicle, for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and provided with adifferential; a transmission connection between the-motor shaft and the'transverse shaft; a driving axle for the rear wheels 'vcomprising' a.pair of spindles to which the said wheels are secured, and a casinginclosing said spindles; outer and inner pinions at each end of thetransverse shaft;

a pair of tractorsilocated at opposite'sidesof the vehicle; a chaindrive between each outer pinion and the adjacent tractor; a chain drivebetween each inner pinion and'the ad jacent spindle; anda clutch deviceon said transverse shaft" for throwing the tractors into and out ofoperation.

On hard roads, the vehicle will as will be understoodfrom 2. In a'motorvehicle for soft ground, the '.combination of a motor; a shaft arrangedtransversely of the vehicle and connected with the motor'to be driventherefrom; a pair of framesconnected with the chassis of the vehicle "atopposite sides thereof; a

"tractor carried by each frame and comprising a plurality of rodspivoted intermediate their'ends in the frame and having rollers at theirlower ends, an endless flexible ele -ment passing around said rollers,and a device slidably mounted in said frame and as-.

sociated with said pivoted rods for rocking "them about their pivots soas to raise said rollers; and driving connections between saidtransverse shaft and said tractors.

3. In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the

combinationof a motor; a shaft arranged transversely of the vehicle andconnected with themotor .tobe driven therefrom; a

pair of frames connected with thechassis of the vehicle at oppositesides thereof; a tractor carried by each frame and comprising aplurality of rods pivoted intermediate their ends in the frame andhaving rollers at their lower ends, an endless flexible element passingaround said rollers, springs connected with the upper ends of saidpivoted rods to normally press said rollers toward the ground, and adevice slidably mountedin said frame for varying the tension of saidsprings; and driving connections between said transverse shaft and saidtractors; rear wheels, in which case the device would 4. In a motorvehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; a-shaft arrangedtransversely of the vehicleand connected with the motor to be driventherefrom; a pair of framesc'onnected with the chassis of the vehicle atopposite sides thereof; a tractor carried'by each frame and comprising aplurality of rods pivoted intermediate their ends in the frame andhaving rollers at their lower ends, an endless flexible element passingaround'said rollers, and a device slidably mounted in saidframe andprorods about their pivots so as to raise said rollers;; and drivingconnections between said transverse shaft and said tractors.

In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a -mo tor;' ashaft arranged \ided with lateral arms engageable with the upper ends ofthe pivoted rods to rock said transversely. of the vehicle and connected7 with the motor to be driven therefrom; a pair of frames connected withthe chassis of the vehicle at opposite sides thereof; a tractor carriedby-each frame and'comprising a plurality of rods pivoted intermediatetheir ends in the frame and having rollers at their lower ends anendless flexible element passing around said rollers, a device supportedin said frame and provided with lateralarms, and springs connecting theextremities of said arms with the upper ends of the pivoted rods topress said rollers toward the ground, said device being mounted forsliding movement to adjust the tension of said spring; and drivingconnectionsbetween said transverse shaft and said tractors.

6. In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and connected with the motorto be driven therefrom; a,

pair of frames connected with the chassis of the vehicle at oppositesides thereof; a tractor carried by each frame and comprising aplurality of rods pivoted intermediate their ends in the frame andhaving rollers at their lower ends, an endless flexible element pass ingaround said rollers, a device supported in said frame and provided withlateral arms, and springs connecting said arms with theupper portions ofsaid pivoted rods to press said rollers toward the ground, said devicebeing mounted for sliding movement to adjust the tension of said springsand to engage the ends of its arms with the ends of said rods to rockthe latter about their piv-' ots and thereby raise said rollers; anddriv ing connections between said transverse shaft and said tractors.

7. in a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and connected with the motorto be driven therefrom; a pair of frames pivotally connected adjacenttheir rear ends to the chassis of the vehicle at opposite sides thereof;a guide bracket secured to the front end of each frame; a pair of rodssecured tO OPPOSIiZQ sides of the chassis and engaged with saidbrackets; elevating means associatedwith the front endof each frame; anendless flexible tractor supported by each frame; and drivingconnections between said transverse shaft and said tractors.

S. In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arrangedtransversely of the vehicle and'connected ported by eachframe; and driving connections between said transverse shaft and saidtractors.

9. in a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and connected ivitl the motorto be driven therefrom; a pair of frames pivotally connectedintermediate their ends to the chassis of .the vehicle to rock about anaxis transverse to the chassis; means for elevating the front endspivoted to the frame and having rollers at their lower ends, and anendless, flexible element passing around said rollers; means for rockingthe rods of each tractor about their pivots to raise the tractorrelatively to its frame; and driving connections be tween saidtransverse shaft and said trac tors.

IO..In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of almotor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and connected with the motorto be driven therefrom; a pair of frames pivotally connectedintermediate their ends to the chassis of the vehicle to rock about anaxis transverse to the chassis; means for elevating the front ends ofsaid frames; an endless, flexible tractor carried by each frame;means-independent of saidelevating means for raising ,said tractorsrelatively to their frames; and

driving connections between said transverse shaft and said, tractors.

11. In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; ashaft arranged transversely of the vehicle and connected with the motorto be driven therefrom; a pair of frames connected with the chassis ofthe vehicle at opposite sides there of; a tractor carried by eachframeand comprising a plurality of rods pivoted one in front of anotherin the frame and having rollers at their lower ends, an'endless fleXible element passing around said rollers, a longitudinally-arranged rodslidable endwise in the frame and provided with laterally-pro ectingarms, springs connecting said arms and pivoted'rods together and actingto normally press said rollers toward the ground, and operating meansfor said longitudinal rod; and driving connections between saidtransverse shaft and said tractors.

12. In a motor vehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; atransverse shaft carried by the vehicle and connected with the motor tobe driven therefrom; a pair of tractor frames pivoted to the chassis ofthe vehicle at: opposite sides thereof; an endless, flexible tractorcarried by each vframe; means for tilting said frames about theirpivots; means for guiding the frames during their tilting movements;means independent of the tilting means for raising said tractorsrelatively to their frames;- and driving connections between saidtransverse shaft and said tractors.

M 13. In a 'motorvehicle for soft ground, the combination of a motor; atransverse shaft carried by the vehicle and connected with the motor tobe driven therefrom; a pair of tractors located at opposite sides of thevehicle, each tractor comprising two ,ing ground-engaging projectionsthereon;

spacechendless chains, the opposite links of speoification in thepresence of two subscribwhlch are connected together, and curved lngWitnesses. metal plates secured to said chzuns and hav- ELYN EMILEOLLIVIER. and driving connections between said trains- \Vitnesses: k

- verse shaft and said tractors. WM. GEORGE,

:In testimony whereof I have signed this FERNAND BROISAT.

